Minutes, EGGA Group Conscience Meeting, 3 June 2023
Starting with 9 people in the meeting.
Chair: David (items 1-3)/Ian L (items 3-14)
Co-chair: not present
Minute taker: Lizzie
1. Opening Serenity Prayer
We said the Serenity Prayer.
2. Review PREVIOUS MINUTES
Brief minutes of the decisions made at the previous meeting were posted in the chat by the Chair. Previous meeting minutes had also been posted in the Forum – both recorded the same decisions. There was no discussion of the minutes.
4. Setting the Agenda Items and their order
To elect new Chair for July - December
Adding the Traditions to the opening readings
Establishing Guidelines for the EGGA Group Conscience WhatsApp
Protecting members from damaging behaviour
Study Group on Best Practises and Basic Needs Workshop for New Meeting Leaders Electing 2 representatives to the GSC
Establish guidelines as to appropriate conduct in all GAA forums
Hosting the anniversary of GAA meeting on June 24
Updating EGGA announcements on the Forum
3. Meeting practices
A motion to discuss the running of the meeting prior to the agenda was proposed and seconded. The Chair stepped down and left the meeting.
Ian L. offered to step in and act as chair for the discussion.
We had a discussion of Roberts Rules and the difference in the approach to meetings, which was seen as more democratic and less hierarchical.
Members supported the decision to abide by typical business etiquette based on the basics of Roberts Rules as agreed at the May meeting.
4. Chair
Motion: that Ian be accepted as Chair for the EGGA Group Conscience meeting for summer 2023.
Passed: Three aye, two abstain. Ian elected as Chair.
5. Adding the Traditions to the opening readings
It was felt that this topic needed more time, so this item was held over for the next meeting.
6. Guidelines for the EGGA Group Conscience WhatsApp
No-one present had been party to this issue being proposed.
Motion: To table this discussion until the proposer is present.
Passed unanimously
6. Protecting members from damaging behaviour
This item related to the decision to ban MF in the May meeting.
The proposer asked how best to protect vulnerable members (particularly newcomers) from the type of disruption caused by people like MF in the future. They suggested:
If someone is banned from a subgroup (on a temporary or permanent basis) due to their behaviour, we adopt a way of keeping track of and communicating such decisions Where such people have been banned from one subgroup, we put in place an agreement to automatically ban them from EGGA for the continued protection of vulnerable members. There was a discussion on this item.
Motion: To drop item
Passed: Five aye, one abstain
7. Study Group on Best Practises and Basic Needs
Workshop for New Meeting Leaders
These two sessions were suggested for regularly monthly meetings open to all for people to come along and talk and learn things. These are to be included on the EGGA group notices.
As we have suppressed our needs for so long, it would be helpful to have to start somewhere to learn about our own needs and discuss these with others going through the same process. This would be the purpose of the study group.
For new (or aspiring) meeting leaders, it would be helpful to have a group that met once a month to learn about leading practices and discuss any issues or concerns.
Motion: To support new workshop by adding announcement to EGGA format once workshop begins.
Passed: Six aye, one abstain
8. Electing 2 representatives to the GSC.
There was a discussion of the GSC representative role and eligibility criteria.
Andy N volunteered to act as a representative and spoke of his relevant experience.
Motion: To elect Andy N as a GSC representative
Passed unanimously
9. Establish guidelines as to appropriate conduct in all GAA forums.
Motion: To drop this item from the Agenda
Passed unanimously
10. Updating EGGA announcements on the Forum
It was noted that the EGGA announcements had not been updated for some time. This used to be a responsibility of the previous Chair and Deputy chair, neither of whom were present. Lizzie volunteered to update these and spoke of her relevant experience.
Motion: For Lizzie W to act to update the EGGA announcements on the Forum.
Passed unanimously
11. POTENTIAL MEETING TOPICS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
These were carried over from this meeting
- Adding the Traditions to the opening readings
- Electing a second representative to the GSC
12. Group Cohesion Questions:
- Are we carrying the message?
- Is the group stable/growing?
- Do you feel safe in the meetings?
We missed this part.
13. Closing the meeting
Motion: to close the meeting
Passed unanimously
14. Closing serenity prayer and hugs
Positions after this meeting:
chair: Ian L (June - August 2023)
Co-chair: vacant
GSC Representative: Andy N
GSC Representative: vacant
WhatsApp Group Admin: Robert
WhatsApp Group Admin: Julian B
WhatsApp Group Admin: Jess
Meeting Leader Monday: Stephen
Meeting Leader Tuesday: Sergey
Meeting Leader Weds: vacant
Meeting Leader Thursday: vacant
Meeting Leader Friday: vacant
Meeting Leader Saturday: David
Meeting Leader Sunday: vacant